Biggest funfair on the Rhine!

Enjoy Dusseldorf when visiting the biggest funfair on the Rhine!

Why only stay for a day in Dusseldorf when visiting the biggest funfair on the Rhine? Combine the trip to the funfair with a relaxing day out shopping, a sightseeing tour and a visit to the old town between the 15th und 24th of July 2016!

Experience the funfair fireworks on the 24th of July 2014 in Dusseldorf on the party ship MS RIVERSTAR of the river cruise company KD Köln-Düsseldorfer, from as little as 75,- € including drinks.

Facts & Figures

An estimated 4.2 million visitors were counted at the biggest funfair on the Rhine in 2013. The funfair is a big festivity for the family, year on year a really peaceful event without any notable negative occurrences.

The biggest funfair on the Rhine is celebrated on the occasion of the Memorial Day (23th of July) of Saint Apollinaris. He was a disciple of Saint Peter and around A.D 200, the first bishop of Ravenna. Around 1300, Dusseldorf came into procession of a relic of the martyr. The saint was declared the patron saint of the town and the citizens of Dusseldorf built him a beautiful shrine, which still stands in the old town church of St. Lambertus today. The second occasion for the celebration of the funfair is the “Kirchweihfest”, the religious festival of the catholic basilica of St. Lambertus in Dusseldorf’s old town.

An important part of the funfair is the “Ausschießen des Schützenkönigs”, a target shooting competition, in which the winner is crowned the champion shot. Every year during the funfair, members of the shooting club St. Sebastianus Schützenverein 1316 e.V. shoot at a fake bird, which is attached to a high-flying target object. The shot which takes down the bird carries the title of “Schützenkönig” for a year. The tradition of shooting birds on the occasion of the “Kirchweihfest” and the festival for the patron saint of the town has been going since 1435. In the 16th century, the festival was even an occasion for suitors to take a closer look at Anna of Cleves, the future wife of King Henry the 8th.

The shooting club organises the giant folk festival on their own initiative and without financial support from the city of Dusseldorf.

The biggest funfair on the Rhine is the most beautiful funfair in Germany thanks to the spectacular location direct on the Rhine. From the rides, the funfair visitors look out on to the Rhine and the backdrop of the famous Dusseldorf old town, which with its hundreds of bars and pubs represents one of the attractions of Dusseldorf.

Arrival & Parking

Over the days of the funfair, the Rheinbahn (Rhine tram) runs to and from the central stop “Luegplatz” in Oberkassel until at least 2am. On Fridays and weekends, all lines are served more frequently. If you are arriving by train, then you can reach “Luegplatz” very comfortably with public transport. The night express runs every 30 minutes to and from the main station.

Important: There is NO PARKING in the direct vicinity of the funfair! At the last funfair, 500 cars had to be towed. Therefore, those travelling by car should change to bus and tram in Dusseldorf. A shuttle bus (line 890) is organised, with which the visitors travel from the stadium car park of the of Esprit-Arena directly and without any other stops to the northern entrance of the funfair area. The service is included in the parking fee of 11 euros and is valid for all vehicle passengers. The shuttle bus starts at around 2pm on all funfair days, on Saturdays, from 1pm and on Sundays, as early as 11am, and shuttles every 15 minutes, until at least 2am. The Park & Ride parking places are well signposted.

For visitors of the funfair from the left bank of the Rhine, Park & Ride places are provided along the Rheinbahn lines U 70, 75 and 76 (e.g. at Haus Meer or Simon-Gatzweiler-Platz).

A special parking place for severely disabled visitors is provided on “Rheinkniebrücke” bridge.

Bicycle parking places are available for bicyclists.

Information

Answers to all questions regarding timetables, tickets and connections for the funfair can be obtained over telephone at any time from Rheinbahn, on 0180/ 50 40 30 (9 cents/min. from landlines, from mobile max. 42 cents/min.) or on the internet at www.rheinbahn.de.